This blog was created for Niles Animal Hospital & Bird Medical Center by Peter S. Sakas DVM in an effort to provide information & discussion about animal related issues. It may move into some eccentric directions on occasion if the mood strikes me as I get more comfortable in this form of communication. I am open to suggestions & comments about the blog. Also view our hospital website www.nilesanimalhospital.com or Facebook page Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Illinois Senate Passes Puppy "Lemon" Law

Illinois Senate narrowly favors puppy lemon law

SPRINGFIELD —
Illinoisans who go to a pet store and buy a dog or cat that turns out
to be seriously ill would have additional legal remedies under a
proposal approved Wednesday in the Illinois Senate.

The measure won by a narrow vote — 31 "yes," 18 "no" and 6 "present."

At
least 20 states have similar laws, commonly called "puppy lemon laws,"
that outline legal remedies for pet buyers who discover their animal was
seriously ill at the time of purchase.

To make a claim under the
Illinois proposal, a new pet owner would have to present a written
statement from a veterinarian that says the animal, at the time it was
purchased, suffered from an undisclosed illness or condition that
"adversely affects" the animal's health.

New pet owners with a
sick animal would have to act within 21 days after the date of sale — or
within a year of sale for a claim based on a congenital or hereditary
condition.

If a claim is successfully made, the proposal outlines
three remedies. The owner can return the animal for a full refund,
exchange the animal for another of comparable value, or keep the animal
and be reimbursed for reasonable veterinary fees, not to exceed two
times the purchase price.

The proposal also would require pet
stores to alert the Illinois Department of Agriculture if a dog or cat
became sick with an outbreak of distemper, parvovirus "or any other
contagious and potentially life-threatening disease" and alert recent
customers if the department issues a quarantine.

The original
proposal from sponsor Sen. Dan Kotowski, D-Park Ridge, would have
included sales by anyone, not just pet stores, but this was opposed by
dog breeders.

Even the narrowed proposal was criticized — for not being applicable to animal shelters.

Opponent
Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, argued that animal shelters should also
be required to notify the Illinois Department of Agriculture of disease
outbreaks.

"We are going to protect the consumers who have the
money to pay $1,000 for a dog as a pet," Righter said. "But what about
all of those consumers who can't afford that, so they are getting their
pet from an animal shelter? They get no consumer protection under this
bill."